Lynn Carter wrote:
>Now, if somebody chimes in that they know CLCs or others who *do* have a
private practice and just do so without insurance, I may have to plant my
face on my keyboard.<

Lynn, you had better start wearing a face guard, because I know of several
CLCs who do just that, right on my doorstep :(  All that mothers see is
that the CLCs are charging a fraction of the IBCLCS' fees, so they think
they are getting a bargain.

There is no doubt that a nursing mother can be helped by a variety of
people who know about the normal course of breastfeeding.- her own mother
or sister, a nurse, a peer counselor, and so on,

However, let us not forget that International Board Certified Lactation
Consultants (IBCLC) are the ONLY internationally certified healthcare
professional in the clinical management of breastfeeding and human
lactation.

It simply does not make sense to infer that a person who has taken a 5 day
course has the same level of expertise as an IBCLC.

To quote from the International Lactation Consultant Association's
"Position Paper on the Role and Impact of the IBCLC":
>The rigorous professional standards of the IBCLC, and the mandated
demonstration of specialized knowledge and skill through international
certification, are the defining characteristics that set IBCLCs apart from
other lactation and breastfeeding support personnel. Support from
mother-to-mother peer counselors, non-credentialed individuals who have
taken a course in lactation and/or breastfeeding management, and
community-based breastfeeding coalitions, work in adjunct to the IBCLC
(Thorley, 1999-2000). These support personnel should not be used to replace
the expertise of an IBCLC. <


Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC,
Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region
www.NormaRitter.com
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